Is a Honda CBR600RR or a Ducati Monster a good bike to learn on?

I know some people are gonna call me stupid for this especially considering they are two completely different types of bikes, but I am pretty big and a very fast learner so I think I can handle them and get used to them very quickly. I am wanting to lean more towards the CBR because I like it more, but I don't know. I also think that as long as you can control the gas and clutch that any size engine should be a huge deal.

The odds of getting killed on a large sport bike are a lot higher for beginners, so be careful!Those bikes are fine to learn on, just keep your wits about you, be cautious, pay attention.My youngest son's first street bike was (still is) a CB 650 Honda, great bike, he was careful but by the end of his first season had ridden almost 10,000 miles.If you think you are some sort of road racer on your third ride you will find Peterbuilt stamped on your forehead.Good Luck, be careful and have fun!!

both not recommended for learning

I've seen a few riders start with great success on 600 supersports in the past but I've also seen some fail (and almost kill themselves in the process) miserably. So I'm kind of split on that one. The Ducati monster however is based on a nearly 20 year chassis and is showing signs of weakness compared to modern day rivals plus they need alot of maintenance thanks to the desmodromic valve system which is useless on a street tuned engine. If you really want a good Italian streetfighter check out Aprilia's Tuono 1000 and Shiver 750. http://www.apriliausa.com/

No offense intended size isn't the issue when it comes to handling the bike. The power to weight ratio is insane on a motorcycle compared to a car. If you have never ridden a motorcycle before I would definitely avoid any kind of full race ready sport bike. You can still get a sporty feel from something like the Ninja 500 but not the obscene kind of power you're going to get from a full sport bike. They can get away from you REALLY easily.That's not to say you can't learn on one, but with the power they have it's easy to make a mistake on the throttle and find yourself on your back.No matter what you decide make sure you get proper riding gear. There are only 2 types of riders, those that have been down and those that will go down. It's going to happen sooner or later when you ride. So enjoy the ride, but dress for the crash.Source:25 years of riding.

Both are good bikes. The bike a person starts on is less important than the mindset of the rider. Take the MSF class and pick the bike you want based on what you like better. If you like the 600RR, buy that. It is a very good bike! The best part about the 600RR is that it is a good track bike as well. You can take the MSF class and then ride on the street. Once you feel like you are ready to step up your learning curve, take the bike to the track. Nothing will make you as good on your bike as riding it in a track day.The key is to be willing to learn, respect the motorcycle and be very watchful of cars...they don't like to see us all the time.Ducati advantages: Upright seating, v-twin low end torque, very simple design so easy to work onDucati disadvantages: Maintenance intervalsHonda advantages: Maintenance intervals, honda fit and finish, nearly bulletproof motorHonda disadvantages: The honda is a bit more difficult to work on than most sportbikes, the seats are like a board

I have a buddy who started on a Ducati Monster and had zero problems. I started on a GSXR 750 and never have had any problems. The bottom line is that you have to ride smart. The second you start being a fool, both of these bikes will not hesitate to dump you on your ass, no matter how big you are.So, if you can control the gas and clutch, its a plus, but if you can control yourself, you are golden.